The Seattle Mariners hire Don Wakamatsu as their new manager. He will be the first Asian-American manager in Major League Baseball history.

On November 19, 2008 — The Seattle Mariners hire former A’s bench coach Don Wakamatsu as their new manager. Wakamatsu will be the team’s 16th manager in the 31-year history of the franchise. The fourth-generation Japanese-American, whose father was born in an internment camp during World War II, is the first Asian-American to manage in Major League Baseball history.

Wakamatsu will manage only 1 full season winning 85 games and be let go by the team in 2010 after a poor start to the season.

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